This week, we have four central banks holding their first policy meeting for the year: the BoJ, the BoC, the ECB and the Norges Bank. All of them are expected to hold their respective policies unchanged and thus, attention is likely to fall on clues and hints on how they intend to move forward. The Eurozone and UK PMIs may attract special attention as well, with the later data set having the potential to seal the deal for a BoE rate cut, perhaps as early as at the Bank’s upcoming gathering.
On Monday, the day appears light with no major indicators on the agenda. The only noteworthy event may be a speech by ECB President Christine Lagarde. In the US, markets will stay closed in celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr Day.
On Tuesday, during the Asian morning, the BoJ concludes its two-day policy meeting. When they last met, Japanese policymakers kept their ultra-loose policy and guidance unchanged, reiterating that they expect “short- and long-term interest rates to remain at their present or lower levels as long as it is necessary to pay close attention to the possibility that...
Read the full financial markets weekly outlook on JFD Research.